Bow-facing oar.



PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903.-

L. W. FLINT.

BOW FACING OAR,

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 27, 1902.

NO MODEL.

THE Moms 921: cc. PHDTO-UTNOY, vqnsmuurux n. c.

, Uni'rnn STATE PATENT @FFICE.

LAFAYETTE W. FLINT, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

BOW-FACING OAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,980, dated January6, 1903.

Application filed March 27,1902- Serial No. 100,273. (No model.)

51 otZZ whom it HY/(147] concern.-

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE W. FLINT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Auburn, in the county' of Cayuga and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Bow-Facing Oar, of which the following is aspecification.

This device relates to that class of oar-operating devices wherein theoperator sits in the boat facing in the direction in which the boat ismoving; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, ashereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan viewof the device complete. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of theoperative parts. Fig. 3 is a seetional detail view of one of the jointsof one of the oar members. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a section on the line m 00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of one of the pivot-bolts detached.

The device is designed'to be attached to the gunw'ale of a boat forwardof the seat instead of astern, as with the ordinary rowlocks, and willbe disposed to oscillate verticallyto provide for the dip of the oar;but neither the boat nor the means of pivoting are shown, as theconstruction is so well known and forms no part of the presentinvention.

The device consists in two plates 10 11, spaced apart and united at theside by lugs 12 13 and connected by bolts 15. Secured in these lugs arethe pivot-studs 16 17, by which the device is pivotally supported uponthe gunwale and adapted to rock thereon when the oars are dipped intoand removed from the water in the act of rowing. The blade end of thecar is represented at 18 and the handle end at 19, each connected, as bybolts or other fastening means 20, at their inner ends, respectively, toarms 21 22. The arms 21 22 extend into the space between the plates 10and 11 and are pivotally secured by bolts 23 24, passing through boththe arms and plates, these bolts being disposed at right angles to thepivot-studs 16 and 17. The ends of the arms21 22 are each turned inreverse angles between the plates 10 and 1 1 and united at their ends bystraps 25 26, one on each side of the arms, by pivotbolts 27 28, asshown. The bolts 27 28 are formed as shown in Fig.6, which representsone of them removed, with a comparatively largecenter and with smallerend portions, the endlportions being threadedand adapted to support nuts29 outside the straps. The enlarged central portion of these boltsengage the arms 21 22, while the smaller ends engage the straps, asshown in Fig. 5.

Surrounding the larger portion of the bolts 27 28 within the arms 21 22are bushings 30 in the form of small split cylinders, and each arm isprovided with a set-screw 31, by which the bushings are maintained inplace, as shown in Figs. land 5. The bushings will generally be of brassor other comparatively soft material, while the bolts 27 28 willpreferably be of hardened steel. By this means the bushings serve aswearing-surfaces to receive all the wear and when worn out can bereadily and quickly renewed, thus preventing wear upon the hardenedparts and providing for keeping the joints always tight and free fromrattling. The bushings are inexpensive,costing but a trifle, so that therenewal of the joint can be made at a trifling expense. When thusassembled and mounted upon the boat, motion imparted to the handleportion 19 will be correspondinglyimparted to the blade portion 18, butin reverse order, so that the rower will sit facing the direction inwhich the boatis moving while operating the oars.

The device is very strong and compact, and by the manner shown offorming the joints between the straps and arms 21 22 they may be easilykept tight and all lost motion and rattling obviated. The straps 25 26by embracing both sides of the arms 21 22 greatly strengthen and supportthem and insure a correspondiugly-increased steadiness of action.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. In adevice of the class described, the car members mounted pivotally betweenplates that are spaced apart and provided with oppositely-extendingpivot-studs, said oar members having their inner ends extended betweensaid plates, links engaging opposite sides of said extended ends of thecar mem bers, split metallic bushings arranged in perforations in theextended ends of the oar members, bolts having enlarged centralunthreaded cylindrical portions engaging said bushings andscrew-threaded ends extending through perforations in the ends of thelinks, and nuts upon the said threaded ends of the bolts, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In adevice of the class described, the oar members mounted pivotallybetween plates that are spaced apart and provided withoppositely-extending pivot-studs, said oar members having their innerends extended between said plates, links engaging opposite sides of thesaid extended ends of the oar members, bushings arranged in perforationsin the extended ends of the oar members,

LAFAYETTE NV. FLINT.

Witnesses:

HORACE E. RICHARDS, B. P. NEVIN.

